Apart from the exploration, I’ve visited many places frequently.
These came across of festival reasons, family functions, seasonal visit’s.etc. Here, i’ve listed down my visited to those places one-by-one.
'The family that travels together stays together'. With similar intentions, myself along with my amily, use to travel frequently and visit many religious and illuminating places of Tamil Nadu and it's bordered states, that's, Bangalore, Hosue, Krishnagiri, Trichy, Chidambaram, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Madurai, Rameshwaram and Kanyakumari. It was an amazing expedition, as we use to be very craving to explore the enormous temples and other attractions of South India was well-nurtured in these popular cities of Tamil Nadu with a plethora of dynamic experiences. Let’s start with the bottom-most part of India, KanyaKumari.
1. KanyaKumari :
KanyaKumari is easily accessibly through Railways and by road. But, it doesn’t has it’s own airport, as the nearest airpot is trivandrum.
BY AIR - The nearest airport is at Trivandrum (80 km). It is directly connected with Bangalore, Mumbai, Cochin, Delhi, Goa, and Chennai by regular flights.
By Train BY RAIL - Kanyakumari is connected to Thiruvananthapuram, Delhi, and Mumbai by broad-gauge railway network. Tirunelvelli (80 km) is the other nearest railway junction and can be reached by road via Nagarkoil (19 km).
By Road BY ROAD - Kanyakumari is connected by road to Trivandrum (86 km), Nagarkoil (19 km), Tirunelvelli (91 km), Tiruchendur (89 km), Tuticorin (129 km), Rameshwaram (300 km), Courtallam (130 km), Madurai (242 km).
Attraction’s :
Thrilling Journey To Vivekananda Memorial :
As we were desperate to visit Vivekananda Rock Memorial, we eagerly headed Vivekananda Memorial. The picturesque views of the enormous Indian Ocean were worth witnessing. The spectacular architecture of memorial was constructed to honor Swami Vivekananda in the early 70s.
There are two main structures here, the Vivekananda Mandapam and the Shripada Mandapam. We boarded a ferry to reach the memorial. The thrilling ferry journey midst the mesmerizing ambiance, made us fall in love with it. After visiting the memorial, we enjoyed the local delicacies from the nearby street shops.
The southernmost tip of Indian mainland, apart from the stunning views has lots to explore.
Following are the some of the other popular attractions in and around Kanyakumari..
Thiruvalluvar Statue – The beautiful statue is dedicated to the successful poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar. Perched upon a 38-foot pedestal, the statue is an important landmark in the coastal town.
* Gandhi Mandapam – Built to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, Gandhi Mandapam is the place where his ashes were kept before immersing them in the water. It is interesting to note that the monument is meticulously designed so that the sun rays on every 2nd October falls exactly on the same place where the ashes were kept.
* Kanyakumari Temple – Fondly known as the Bhagvaty Amman Temple, the shrine is one of the 108 Shakti Peeths of the Hindu Goddess.
* Kanyakumari Beach – An ideal place to spend quality time with family and friends, the Kanyakumari Beach offers amazing views of the sunrise, sunset, Vivekananda Memorial, the lighthouse and confluence of the Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea.
* Thirparappu Falls – Presenting a sight to behold, the waterfall is a manmade one and descends from a height of 50 feet. It is an ideal place for swimming and boating.
* Suchindrum – Suchindrum is a town with bountiful of temples featuring distinctive Dravidian architecture and massive gopurams.
* Kumari Amman Temple – The temple is a must visit if you are looking for many cultural heritage of the Indian people.
* Padmanabhapuram Palace – Constructed in 1601 AD, the old granite fortress had served as the residing place of the Travancore Rulers.
* Wax Museum – Get clicked with your favorite celebrities and prominent personalities at the Wax Museum.
* Thanumalayan Temple – The sacred shrine is the only place where the three prominent Hindu Gods i.e., Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva are worshipped as a single deity.
* Vattakottai Fort - Carved out of granite and stone, the fort is situated at a scenic location.
* Lord Subramanya Temple – The temples houses countless towers and never-ending pillars.
2. Rameshwaram :
In Rameswaram island, the only sea which is silent is Agni theertham sea, whereas the Dhanushkodi sea, kunthukal beach, Pamban sea and all other seas have tidal waves. Why Agni theertham Sea is so silent and has very little water ripples. Native Rameshwaram people have this frequently asked question, encountered from their friends, colleagues, and relatives. I. E., Why Rameswaram sea has No waves?. Here, we will discuss the scientific reason and the mythical reason behind this phenomenon.
The Scientific Reason for waves in the sea :
The tidal waves in the sea / Ocean are created by the following factors, the increase or decrease in their impact on the sea makes the tides to be large or small.
* Winds blow on the surface of the Sea/Ocean.
* Rotation of the earth
* The gravitational pull of Moon
* Ocean Currents
Hazardous waves can be created due to unstable weather conditions and hurricanes.
The mythical story for waves in the sea :
There’s is mythical story related with this no wave theory. The legend says that to obey the Ramanathaswamy, Lord Shiva in the Rameswaram temple, the sea controls its waves. Another legend says that Once upon a time this sea has larger waves, and created a disaster for the Rameswaram people. After this incident, the sea was pacified by performed rituals and pooja and offerings to the sea. In that pooja, the Elephant is given as a sacrifice to the sea along with ritualistic pooja materials into the sea.
The actual reason might also be as follows :
* The Agni theertham Sea‘s Geographical Location - The Sea located here doesn’t affect by the Oceanic Currents.
* It is not deep or Large - The coral reefs found near the region pacifies the flow of sea waves.
* The Larger the water expanse, deeper the water ( with a shallow coast ) and stronger the wind, larger the waves.
This is the reasons for the Rameswaram sea to have low tides or almost no tides.
Similarly, the ariyaman beach (Kushi Beach) near Rameswaram island also have no wave.
Other Popular places to visit in Rameswaram
There are many places to visit in Rameshwaram for tourists pilgrims. Here are some o the most popular attractions in and aroun Rameshwaram.
Ramanathaswamy Temple :
Ramanatha Swamy Temple is the main Temple of the Rameswaram Island, thousands of pilgrims and tourists visit Ramanathaswamy temple every day for its sacredness and its architectural beauty. This Temple is considered as a holy pilgrimage place among three important Indian religious sects. shaivism (those who worship Lord Shiva), Vaishnavism ( those who worship Lord Vishnu), Smarthism (a sect of Brahmins those who follow smrithis as authorized texts, and worship all gods as Brahman, they follow Adhvaidha principle ). It is believed that the Shiva ? Linga in this shrine was installed by Lord Ram in Thretha yuga (1.2 million years ago). The temple consists of 22 wells, in which taking bath from those 22 well waters are considered as holiest thing for any kind o problem. It cost’s Rs.500 for a guide, who will take care of all the 22 well’s visit around the temple with a bucket o water for a person. One can also go without a guide, but if he / she has the kinowledge and experience about it. I recommend or the first time visitors, they can go along with a guide. Many local guides are available iun white and white dress combinations, just outside the temple.
Ramar Padham :
Ramar Padham is a Temple for Ram’s Feet; it is situated in the sandy hillock named Gandha Madhana parvatham (The village where this temple is located is also called as Gandha Madhana Parvatham). The word Parvatham Literally meant Mountain, as per the reference in the epic Ramayana, there was a mount in this place in the ancient times.
The feet of Lord Rama are engraved in a stone chakra in this place. The Ramar padham is the highest point in the Rameswaram, one can see the full panoramic view of Rameswaram island by standing on the top of this Temple. It was believed that Lord Rama visited this location, in search of Sita over Sri Lank (as this was the tallest place in Rameswaram).
Suggestions : If you have Binoculars don’t forget to bring them when you plan a visit for Ramar padham (It may be an admirable occasion for you if you bring so).
Dhanushkodi :
Dhanuskodi lies in the southern tip of the Rameswaram. The word Dhanushkodi literally means “tip of the bow”. This spectacular place is bordered by Bay of Bengal sea on one side and Indian ocean on the other, Dhanuskodi is Declared as a ghost town by the government after this natural calamity, seems as a devastated land with the limited number of fishermen families (nearly around 500 families living there).
Dhanushkodi is crowded as a busy city before the 1964 storm, on 1964 December 22, a heavy storm washes away the entire dhanushkodi and shatters it into pieces.
Dhanushkodi is now with the population of around 500 .with its shattered remnants (Remnants of old Church, Railway station, passport office can be seen here).
Bay of Bengal on one side and Indian Ocean on the other side, with Crystal Clear Water :
Gothanda Rama Temple :
Gothanda Rama Temple is located on the way towards the Dhanushkodi. Gothandam ? is a name of the bow which is carried by Lord Rama. In this Temple Rama blessed his devotees with Lord Sita, Lord Lakshman, Lord
Hanuman and Lord Vibhishanan. Lord Gothanda Ramar Temple is situated 14km from the Rameswaram town. This Temple is surrounded by sea water on all of its sides. The road at the center of the sea leads us to the Gothanda Rama Temple.
During Winter season (October - November) Sea Gulls, flamingos and some more birds made their visit to the palace near Gothanda Ramar Temple (Normally these birds clustered inside the sand pits near Gothanda Ramar Temple).
Government buses will stop in this place, but you have to take a walk of 1KM inside a road located between the sea. Private vehicles or auto rickshaws are the best choices to visit this place. You can visit this place before or after visiting Dhanushkodi.
At the very tip of Dhanushkodi one can view the merging point of the seas Indian ocean (A sea with high tides) and bay of Bengal (the low tide sea) and the end of Rameswaram, this point in the Dhanuskodi is the land border of India and Srilanka, from here the Srilanka is nearly about 15 KM.
Notes to remember before visiting Dhanushkodi :
Previously there is no road service to the dhanushkodi (devastated city and arichal munai point). The roads ended at the place called as mukuntharayar chatram, after this place, there was only a sandy region. Buses, or private vehicles such as cars, autos can’t travel in this sandy seashore region, there were only the jeeps and van service helps us to travel along the sand.
Now there is a new road service started by the government of India up to the Rama Sethu point (Arichal munai) and it is opened now for the public transport. One can now reach up to “Arichal munai” with their vehicles or auto rickshaws, The sea bridge built across the sea towards Srilanka by Lord Rama is believed to be started from this point. Arichal Munai is the South most tip of the Rameswaram Island.
The journey to this place is prohibited during winters, Rain, and Storms.
Travelers are advised to plan their trips according to the climate changes because during the rainy and stormy seasons it is not good to visit Dhanushkodi.
Pamban Bridge :
It is believed that up to the first quarter of the fifteenth century Mandapam and Pamban were connected by a strip of land. A cyclone in the 15th century resulted in the submergence of that connecting strip of land between Mandapam and Pamban. After that boat service was the only mode of transport to reach the land of Rameswaram.
The Pamban Bridge (Road bridge and the Railway bridge) Stands as a massive structure over the Indian Ocean, parallel to each other between the shores of Mandapam and Pamban (the starting point of Rameshwaram island). However the name “Pamban bridge” refers both of them, it is actually the name of the Pamban Railway Bridge.
Pamban Bridges are the two’ly connecting pathways of the Rameswaram island over the sea, They connect the Indian mainland with the Rameswaram island. The Pamban bridge is called by the name “Pamban paalam”(in the Tamil Language) by the people of Rameshwaram island.
These Two bridges stand on the world’s second most corrosive environment and also Cyclone prone and high-velocity wind zone environment.
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Monument :
The memorial showcases Dr APJ Abdul Kalam?s history. Personal belongs of the late leader are also displayed here. Statue of the late President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, playing the musical instrument Veena. There are two other silicon statues of Dr. Kalam, in presidential suit, in sitting and standing postures.
Sample model of missiles and rockets with which Dr. Abdul Kalam had worked are also on display. Information on APJ Abdul Kalam?s life is depicted through the 500 odd portraits, displayed at the memorial. Acrylic paintings numbering around 90 are also on display.
Library, planetarium, auditorium, etc, are planned for the second phase of the Abdul Kalam memorial, to be completed in the next phase of development.
Navapashanam :
Mythical stories related with Devipattinam:
In the Valmiki Ramayana, it is mentioned that Lord Rama installed the nine stones representing the Navagrahas, (the 9 planets), to worship before commencing the war with the demon king Ravana, who kidnapped Rama’s wife Sita.
Another legend which states that Devipatnam is the place where Goddess Parvathi had put an end to the atrocities of demon Mahishasura. The word devi pattinam is a tamil name (Devi = Goddess Devi, pattinam = city or abode) which literally means the abode of the goddess Devi/Parvathi.
It is believed by the pilgrims that by took bath in this sea and worship the 9 planets, all our karma related problems and Navagraha dhoshams (astrological predictions about one’s misfortunes based on the planetary disorders in one’s astrology chart) will be rectified.
This place is one of the special navagraha temple as the navagraha is in located inside the sea. This Navagraha temple is located a few meters from the seashore and is located inside the sea. The Devipattinam sea is not so tidy. pilgrims can walk their way in the sea to this place. depth near the temple is about 4 feet and The deities are partially or fully immersed in the sea water the deities were visible 2-3 feet height outside the sea during day times, If the water level got high they were submerged inside the sea.
In the earlier days, pilgrims have to take a walk inside the sea to reach this temple. Now a cement bridge had been built for connecting this immersed Navagraham temple.
In the morning time, the water level would have got reduced with which one can walk and perform Pooja. Even now if you want to do Poojas and other rituals such as dhosham parikarams and offerings it is recommended to visit this place in the early morning by 5:00 to 6:00AM. For a normal visit, it is fine to go anytime in the day now, as they have built a bridge to reach the Navagraha and pathway to go around rounds of the Navagraha.
The pilgrims were advised to take bath in the sea before doing the poojas and rituals to the deities.
Travel Guidelines for Devipattinam Navagraha Temple :
During the evening and night times, the Navagraha deities may not be visible, as the water level could have covered it. Genarally the pilgrims take a combine pilgrim package trip to Rameshwaram, Uthirakosamangai and Thirupullani which are around the same district (Ramanathapuram district).
If you want to take a public transport as a mode of transport, you can take buses from Ramanathapuram, Rameshwaram or from Madurai to reach Devipattinam bus station. There are several buses available along this route. It is 15km from Ramanathapuram and would be a 30 mins ride in a bus. The temple is 500mts walk from the bus stand, autos also would be available.
Some of the shrines that are located nearby are Kadaladaitta Perumal Temple, Thilakeswarar temple, and Lokanayaki Amman Temple.
3). Madurai :
Meenakshi Temple :
In Madurai, a small city in Tamil Nadu, colourful towers covered in ornate carvings rise from the grounds of Meenakshi Temple, one of the most striking places of worship in India. The colour, the detail and the dominating presence of this amazing temple brings a steady stream of travelers (and a large influx of pilgrims) to Madurai, which is also home to some other historic sites. Keep reading for everything you need to know about visiting Meenakshi Temple (also known as Meenakshi Amman Temple) and the other interesting things to do in Madurai.
There are four main gates / towers at Meenakshi Temple and you walk around the outside and photograph these psychedelic artistic structures. Upon entering these gates you'll be stripped of your electronic devices, meaning you won't be able to photograph the interior of the temple. It's pretty frustrating, but I guess it gives you more time to feel spiritual. For the non spiritual folks out there it's still a fun place to explore. The architecture is unique to southern India and there are some impressive carvings throughout the complex. There are a total of 14 gopurams (gateway towers) and several halls featuring countless sculptured pillars.
It's frustrating not being able to show you any of this from the inside, but rules are rules! Non Hindus aren't allowed into the inner sanctum, which seemed like a bit of a blessing to me as the line was really long! It is kind of strange to be one of the only people in a place of worship not worshiping, but you'll get used to that pretty quickly in India.
There has likely been a temple at (or close to) the current location since the 6th Century AD, but the structure you'll see today mostly dates back to the 16th / 17th Century (plus some later repairs and improvements).
Entry price: Free (a few rupees to store your shoes / electronic devices).
Opening Hours: 5 am to 12 pm, 4pm to 10pm (the temple is closed between 12 pm and 4 pm).
What to wear: There doesn’t seem to be a strict dress code but wearing shorts / sleeveless shirts will probably see you rejected.
My favourite part of Meenakshi Temple was walking around the outside of the complex. The towers stand tall above the hectic streets of Madurai, where merchants hawk all sorts of products to visiting pilgrims. It's actually quite a pleasant place to walk and you'll get some great views of the towers, which are bursting with colourful carvings. You can also peak into the temple from the gates outside and capture some of the carvings and paintings, which kind of makes up for the no photo rule inside the temple complex.
The busy streets of Madurai with Meenakshi Temple in the backgroundColourful carvings of Meenakshi Temple, Madurai, IndiaColourful paintings at Meenakshi Temple, Madurai, India
When walking around the outside of the temple you'll likely be approached by people wanting to take you to a rooftop to get a better view. There's always a catch with these things ? in exchange for an awesome view of the temple you'll have to do some “shopping”. It's kind of annoying but it's easy enough to have a quick look through some rugs / paintings / wooden elephants. It's definitely worth it to see this amazing place from above.
THIRUMALAI PALACE :
Meenakshi Temple overshadows everything else in Madurai, but there are a few other places worth checking out. Thirumalai Palace, which dates back to the mid 1600s, is an elegant throwback to a more luxurious era. The main hall is really impressive but there isn’t a lot else to see ? you can easily see this place in 30 minutes or less.
ST MARY's CATHEDRAL CHURCH :
This blue and white church, built in the mid 1800s, is just across the road from the palace.
GANDHI MUSEUM :
I decided to visit the Ghandi Museum because it's housed in a cool old building, but the actual museum part was better than I expected. I learnt a lot about the history of India, from a divided land before colonialism to the struggle for independence.
JIGARTHANDA :
Is the extreme Indian heat getting you down? Try a jigarthanda, a sweet drink with ice cream served in a small glass from street side stalls. I saw a shop called “Famous Jigarthanda” on Google Maps and decided to check it out. It was really busy so it obviously deserves its name, and the drink was really refreshing.
SRIVILLIPUTHUR :
Srivilliputhur is a small town at Viruthunagar District at Tamil Nadu. This town was under the rule of Naickers and subsequently ruled by the British. One could find a mix of cultures i.e. Tamil and British. At first, people told me that there were only temples in and around this town. But on exploring, I found that this town has more than temples!
Getting here :
Srivilliputhur is 3 hours drive from Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Only roadways is available. Frequently, buses ply to this route from Madurai. Ticket Costs around Rs. 100/- one way.
4). Tiruchendur
One of the six places of worship dedicated to Lord Muruga, the shore temple of Arulmigu Subramanya Swami at Tiruchendur has a unique significance as the culmination of the concept of Muruga. With its lofty tower of about 140 feet, it has a holy past dating back to 2,000 years, if not earlier. References are available in such texts as Puranan?ru, Silappadik?ram, Tirumurugatrupadai, Adi Sankarar ?r? Subramanya Bhujangam, Kanda Pur?nam, Tiruppukazh, Tiruchendur Pillai Tamil, etc.
As one of the foremost spiritual centres, the temple has been an attraction for Hindus for ages. This was the only temple of Lord Muruga located on the seashore. His shrines are always situated amid mountains and forests, for these regions are considered dear to Lord Murugan. The variance here is possibly due to Muruga's divine mission to free the devas, and the vanquishing of evil in the form of Surapadma and his mighty hosts in V?ra Mahendram, their mid-ocean fortress. The Tamils have ever since been celbrating the event as an annual festival during Skanda Sasti.
At this spot, Lord Muruga was said to have emcamped before and after vanquishing the asuras and worshipped Siva at the shrine Mayan had built for Him. The Kanda Madana Parvata, the red sandstone rock of this coast received its foundations. A lofty gopuram also rose beside it.
Built on a sandstone cliff and by the Bay of Bengal, the Tiruchendur Murugan temple is the only of the 6 holy places of worship for Lord Murugan that is not located on top of a mountain or in forests. This is one of those temples that has a number of unique attributes. It is a temple that was untouched by the 2004 tsunami that struck terror in coastal Tamil Nadu. And that too when it is just 50 metres from the sea and when damage occurred at other locations. I have a personal history with this temple as it is one of those temples that my family believes in. Right from my first birthday to my recent visit, I have set foot in one of India’s largest temple complexes many times. And each time, I am blown away by its beautiful architecture, surreal location and its seaside atmosphere.
If you opt for a non-festival day to visit this temple, you can admire the stories portrayed on the temple walls, you can feed the temple elephant, you can swim in the waters off the temple beach, you can snack on some local delicacies while you walk this long stretch of beach and of course get a good darshanam of the Lord Murugan decked in either Vibhuti, Sandanam and others without being jostled about. You will also notice that this temple doesn’t have a Eastern gateway, which is actually the norm in other Hindu temples. You will wonder at the engineering marvel of building such a tall and large temple on sea sand. You will find out that this temple was not built by any king, but by 3 saints. In short, you will have a fantastic time in the temple and one that will appeal to your spiritual, artistic, historic, culinary and scenic senses.
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